On Friday, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) withdrew her planned participation in an event sponsored by Americans for Peace Now to commemorate former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. She did so after hearing criticisms and concerns raised by Palestinians and Palestinian rights organizations, who spoke up against the whitewashing of Rabin’s politics, and the rehabilitation of a “peace process” that only further entrenched Israeli domination.

Within a twenty-four-hour period, Ocasio-Cortez sought out input from Palestinians and Jewish organizations, and those conversations factored into her decision to change course. That AOC took her cues from Palestinians instead of pro-Israel voices is a testament to the importance of having elected officials who are accountable to progressive movements. Her actions show a willingness to challenge not only the ultra-right policies of Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, but also liberal Zionists, who have canonized Rabin as “an Israeli patriot killed for trying to make peace.”

She’s faced the predictable liberal backlash since, complete with the requisite accusations of anti-semitism, along with a bonus lecture from Joe Biden himself, who told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency: “She could have rejected the invitation for any number of reasons. But if she agrees and then pulls out, she’s creating problems for her own party.”